COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION - background
Sir Fabian Ware was too old to fight in the First World War, but became the Commander of a Mobile Red Cross unit, he was concerned that the final resting places of the dead would be lost forever. His unit started recording the final resting places of those who fell. By 1915 their work was given official recognition by the War Office and after lobbying the Imperial War Conference in 1917 the Imperial War Graves Commission was founded.
The principles of commemoration still stand today
The headstones are generally cut from Portland stone with a unique typeface designed by Leslie MacDonald Gill that can be read from any angle.
Typically a headstone will have inscribed
The CWGC maintains 1.1 million on the 1.7 million registered war graves, typically the plots are laid to grass with plants to recreate an English garden amongst them.
There is much more information on the CWGC website where you can search locations throughout the UK to learn more (including a mobile phone App that is useful if you are travelling)
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/
Sir Fabian Ware was too old to fight in the First World War, but became the Commander of a Mobile Red Cross unit, he was concerned that the final resting places of the dead would be lost forever. His unit started recording the final resting places of those who fell. By 1915 their work was given official recognition by the War Office and after lobbying the Imperial War Conference in 1917 the Imperial War Graves Commission was founded.
The principles of commemoration still stand today
- Each of the dead should be commemorated by name on the headstone or memorial.
- Headstones and memorials should be permanent
- Headstones should be uniform with no distinction between military or civil rank
The headstones are generally cut from Portland stone with a unique typeface designed by Leslie MacDonald Gill that can be read from any angle.
Typically a headstone will have inscribed
- Regimental or Service badge
- Service number
- Rank
- Name
- Regiment/Service
- Date of death and age
- Religious emblem if desired
- Personal inscription from family
The CWGC maintains 1.1 million on the 1.7 million registered war graves, typically the plots are laid to grass with plants to recreate an English garden amongst them.
There is much more information on the CWGC website where you can search locations throughout the UK to learn more (including a mobile phone App that is useful if you are travelling)
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/